Steven M. Powell

Steven M. Powell serves as Secretary-Treasurer of Local 881 of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union and International Vice President. Steve began his career in the Labor Movement in 1985 as a Union Representative for Local 881. In 1991, Steve was asked to serve the UFCW International Union, in Washington D.C. as Director of Political Affairs. Steve then returned to the Local in 1995 to serve as the Executive Vice President until he was elected Secretary-Treasurer in 1999. In addition to his duties with the local Union, he was assigned to be a special assistant to the President of the UFCW International to coordinate activities for the 2008 and 2012 Presidential Elections. He is a Trustee for the UFCW Midwest Health Benefits Fund, Chairman of the Indiana Calumet Region Health and Welfare Fund, and Trustee for the UFCW Local 655 Health and Welfare Fund. Steve is a member of the Democratic National Committee, serving since 2005. Governor Pat Quinn appointed him to serve as a delegate from Illinois on the Great Lakes Commission in 2009. From 2012 to 2017, Steve was appointed to the Illinois Board of Investments. He further serves his community and volunteers his time to a variety of organizations, including, United Latinos of UFCW, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and others. He served as an elected Trustee for the Village of Mundelein from 1997 to 2001.

Local 881 UFCW represents 34,000 members employed in retail food and drug stores throughout Illinois and Northwest Indiana, as well as a professional division comprised of health and nursing home workers, barbers and cosmetologists, and workers in other retail and service industries. Among the companies under contract with Local 881 are Jewel Food Stores, Osco Drug, Mariano’s Fresh Markets, Kroger, Schnucks, and many smaller chains and independent stores, as well as nursing homes and other business establishments. Local 881 is among the largest affiliates of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.